The Goochland Gazette – 04/08/2021 by Goochland Gazette

INSIDE County announces new additions to Leadership Team > page 2

Volume 66 Number 14 • April 8, 2021

After 11 years, Stamey heads for new role in Hanover County

County to host Clean-Up event this Saturday

Tell Me a Story

By Roslyn Ryan Editor

From ushering in new parks to resurrecting old buildings, former Deputy CA has left his mark on Goochland By Roslyn Ryan Editor

When now former Goochland Deputy County Administrator Derek Stamey first came to the County’s Parks, Recreation and Facilities Department eleven years ago, he knew almost immediately what his first task was going to be: Removing the barbed wire that was then ringing the county’s youth football field. His goal was simple, Stamey said: “We wanted to show people that we were open and available. To me, that wire was a symbol of keeping people out — and we wanted to bring them in.” Since that first week, Stamey and his team have worked tirelessly toward that goal, creating proSTAMEY grams, adding recreational amenities—including a host of new park facilities spread out across the County — and helping to revive and repurpose the County’s former Central see Stamey > 3

Courtesy photo

Patrick Gannon Jr., left, in an undated family photo taken around 1988, giving his father Patrick Gannon Sr. a lift on his motorcycle.

The Weather Forecaster Patrick Gannon Contributing Writer

Editor’s note: The following contribution is part of the Gazette’s continuing series “Tell Me a Story,” in which we ask our readers to share tales from their own lives or the lives of close family members.

y dad was a Cold War warrior. The son of an Army artillery officer, he began in Korea with a select group — the GHQ Raiders, a precursor to the Army Special Forces — doing things like sneaking ashore

in rubber boats to perform reconnaissance. He carried a piece of shrapnel in his hip for the rest of his life but made it out alive with a couple of horror stories. After college he joined the Air Force as a meteorologist officer working for SAC (Strategic Air Command). When we lived in Massachusetts, he worked in the middle of a mountain in a nuke-hardened facility we were never allowed into. During this period, he picked up a reputation for being a good weather forecaster. After his time in the mountain, he see Story > 3

As Goochland residents continue to seek solutions for the nagging issue of trash piling up along the county’s roadways, the County government is offering a chance to take a hands-on approach to the problem. On Saturday, April 10, Goochland County will be holding a Countywide Litter Clean-Up Day from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., the third in a line of many future events local officials say will be aimed at taming the County’s trash problem. Saturday’s event includes three staging locations focusing on specific areas, including: Byrd Elementary School (2704 Hadensville Fife Road), which will address Hadensville Fife Road Central High Cultural and Educational Complex (2748 Dogtown Road), which will address Dogtown Road and Whitehall Road Goochland County Fire Rescue Station # 3 – Centerville (52 Broad Street Road), which will address areas along Broad Street Road (Rt. 250) in the Centerville Village and along Manakin Road & Hockett Road Goochland County’s Department of General Services is coordinating the clean-up and asks that volunteers pre-register if possible, although it is not required. Anyone interested in participating can register by contacting the Department of General Services’ main office at (804) 5565340 or by email at litterfreegoochland@ goochlandva.us. see Clean-Up > 2

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April 8, 2021

Clean-Up continued from >1 Volunteers may also register and participate at a neighborhood (secondary) level outside the areas listed above. Volunteers working at the neighborhood level will need to pick up their materials on the morning of April 10 at one of the designated locations above, and should

return their materials and collected trash to the same location. Participants should wear solid shoes, a face mask, and heavy duty gloves if they have them. The County will provide face masks, trash bags, vests, hand wipes, and trash grabbers. All participants are encouraged to practice social distancing throughout the event.

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Goochland announces Horlacher, Hunter added to Leadership Team Kronberg named as county’s new director of Parks and Recreation HORLACHER

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Goochland County has announced key promotions in its Leadership Team, changes that became effective April 1, 2021. Barbara Horlacher has been promoted to Deputy County Administrator for Administrative Services. Horlacher will lead the County’s Finance, Assessor, Information Technology and Human Services/CSA departments. She has been the county’s Director of Financial Services for four and a half years. Jo Ann Hunter has been promoted as Goochland’s new Deputy County Administrator for Community and Economic Development and Public Utilities. Hunter will oversee Community Development (Planning &

Zoning, Building Inspection, Environmental), Economic Development and Public Utilities. She was formerly the Director of Community Development, a position she held for four years. Horlacher and Hunter have successfully served in progressively responsible local government positions, gaining expertise that they will bring to their new positions. The two will support the County Administrator in accomplishing the vision of the Board of Supervisors, and they will serve as primary contacts in the absence of County Administrator Kenny Young. Goochland County is also excited to announce that Jessica Kronberg is being promoted to the Director of Parks and Recreation. Kronberg will oversee the day-to-day operations of the Parks and Recreation department and will be responsible for the development and maintenance of County parks, community recreation programming, youth camps, and special events. Kronberg was formerly the Recreation Services Director.

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SPORTS

GHS sweeps district XC championships PAGE 8

Calendar ................................ 4 Classifieds ........................... 14 Letters .................................... 6 Opinion .................................. 6 Sports ...............................8-10 TV Listings ......................11-13

Natural Resources Summer Camp registration now open for students Contributed report

The Va. Department of Forestry and the Va. Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts are sponsoring a virtual natural resources summer camp for current high school students. Scheduled for Monday, July 12 – Friday, July 16, 2021, the Virginia Academy of Natural Resources virtual camp will explore natural resource topics, careers, and activities. The themes include wildlife, forestry, soils, and aquatics. There will be live pre-

sentations held each morning by natural resource professionals, followed by daily independent assignments. These assignments will come with instructions and materials for campers to keep, and are intended to connect campers with the natural world around them. The camp will also feature a small group project and a competition at the end of the week that models the Virginia Dominion Energy Envirothon. Current 9th-12th graders may register for

camp at https://forms. gle/9mRUtyoaPRvFQY2N9 . The cost is $25 for field study materials, but there are scholarships available. For more information, email ellen.powell@ dof.virginia.gov. Monacan Soil & Water Conservation District is offering five scholarships that will reimburse the camp fees once the participant has completed the camp. For questions about reimbursement for camp fees, contact Monacan SWCD at (804) 556-4936.

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Toll Free - (877) 888-0449 Office - (804) 746-1235 Joy Monopoli Publisher (804) 775-4614 Fax: (804) 819-5529 Melody Kinser Managing Editor (804) 775-4622 Fax: (804) 344-8746 Roslyn Ryan Editor (804) 339-7956 Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor (540) 728-0549 Cindy Adams Classifieds (804) 775-4616 Fax: (804) 344-8746

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April 8, 2021

Stamey continued from >1 High School building, which had been slated for possible demolition but is now a thriving community hub. While he is now set to begin a new chapter as the Director of Parks and Recreation for Hanover County, Stamey insisted last week that he knows he is leaving his Goochland duties in exceptionally good hands. Everything that has been accomplished over the past decade has been a true team effort, Stamey said. “The staff

Story continued from >1 was sent to Vietnam, where he worked on a weather modification project. Declassified after the war, “Project Popeye” used cloud seeding to make it rain over the Ho Chi Minh trail. Dad said bombs and Agent Orange did not do much; the only thing that slowed the North Vietnamese down was the rain, turning everything to mud. After his deployment he was assigned to Hickam AFB in Hawaii, where yours truly learned how to surf. Dad also learned to surf (badly) and we both got SCUBA certified. When he retired, before moving back to the mainland, he was given a small, private ceremony and presented with a medal, which, if my memory is correct, was the highest noncombat medal the USAF could give him. Dad never once spoke of it. It seemed that his reputation as a forecaster was still held in high esteem, or maybe he had been flying dangerous cloud seeding missions over Vietnam and never told us. He was working in the 1970s on what today is called Global Climate Change. After retirement, he finished up his PhD at the University of

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

that the County has is incredible, and every one of them touches these projects. This team is amazing, and I wish them continued success.” Stamey has received plenty of accolades during his time in Goochland, but he says it’s the collaborative successes that have meant the most to him. Several years ago, for example, when County leaders were weighing what to do with the dilapidated building that had once been home to Goochland’s Black high school, the easiest solution appeared to be simply knocking it down. Responding to an outcry from

residents, however — including many Central High School graduates—the County agreed to try and find a way to renovate and make use of the property. As the point person for the project, Stamey soon found himself juggling a whole host of logistical challenges from how to make the space usable to how to accomplish the monumental renovations within budget. This wasn’t a hands-off job: during the renovation it was not unusual to see Stamey wielding a sledgehammer. It wasn’t an easy road, Stamey said, but the results

speak for themselves. “It was the quintessential example of collaboration with the community,” Stamey said. “When the citizens come to you and say ‘We trust you,’ I think that speaks volumes.” Stamey said last week that he plans to remain involved with the local community as a resident, and added that he’s incredibly thankful to have been part of the County’s Leadership Team. “It’s been a great time, and we really have a lot to be proud of,” Stamey said. “I’m going to miss it, but I’m really excited about Goochland’ future.”

Miami and all but lived in an office filled to the brim with reams of computer paper — basically turning clouds into numbers. His thesis involved demonstrating that all the construction and paving in South Florida along the coastline was affecting the historical rainfall patterns of the state and sending rain that used to fall into the Everglades into the ocean instead. After proving his thesis, and getting his PhD, he joined NOAA (National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration) where his forecasting skills were used to select the days when they would do cloud seeding experiments over the Everglades. He participated in those flights and would come home exhausted and green from being knocked all over the airplane as they specifically flew through large thunderstorms. My sister recounted a story at his memorial service of his plane suffering an engine failure in the middle of a huge thunderstorm. The odds of returning safely were questionable. He radioed in, asking them to tell his wife and kids he loved them, but fortunately the plane limped into a different airport safely. Note again the great forecast-

ing skills — he managed to forecast the storm that tried to kill him! That project was also investigating whether hurricanes could be seeded to get them to lose power or change direction, but Congress put an end to that – no playing God with nature, not to mention the potential liability involved in accidentally pushing hurricanes from my town to yours. Note that the technology was working. So where are we going with this story? Dad left government service and moved to Vermont to teach meteorology. Some of the people on The Weather Channel had been his students and dad could say which were actors and which were real meteorologists who knew the math. I used to ride a motorcycle and would go up and visit them in Vermont from time to time. It was on one of these trips that I asked dad for a forecast. Would I have time to get down to Massachusetts, where I was going to visit a friend, before it started raining? “No problem,” the esteemed forecaster assured me. “You’ll be out of the state well before the rain hits.” Some 45 minutes later, I was almost instantly drenched head to toe due to a torrential

downpour before getting into rain gear. There was a traffic problem, and an officer was out directing traffic. He broke into a huge grin as I inched forsee Forecaster > 4

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NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

April 8, 2021

Recent Property Transfers 12309 Beech Hall Circle, Manakin Sabot; Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC to Laura L. Montrose, $569,584. 7463 Brandiston St., Glen Allen; Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC to Thomas J. Banholzer, $446,179. 12205 Bremner Ridge Circle, Manakin Sabot; Eagle Construction of Virginia LLC to Timothy D. Yoder, $662,492. 1700 Bridgewater Court,

Maidens; Blue Ridge Custom Homes LLC to Christopher M. Coiner, $490,000. 2514 Crest Hollow Court, Goochland; Terri Ann Esposito to Stanley Shapiro Jr., $428,000. 1 Dover Place, Richmond; Armin R. Hartmann to Christopher Michael Humes, $712,000. 12667 Fawn Lane, Richmond; Hung V. Nguyen to Andre Bahia Dos Santos,

$569,000. 909 Hocket Road, Manakin Sabot; Kelley W. Powell to Alan R. Williamson, $371,000. 64 Manakin Parke Drive, Manakin Sabot; G. Edward Stover Jr. to Stephan A. Bryant, $451,000. 14020 Mosaic Nook, Richmond; HHHunt Homes LC to Howard A. Levy, $374,915.

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Library Calendar Librarian Carolyn Garner of the Pamunkey Regional Library has released the list of virtual programs on Zoom in April. For more information, or if you have a special physical or communication need, contact ask@pamunkeylibrary.org. Family Trivia Night Friday April 9, 4:45–5:45 p.m. Grades 2-5 with family. Have a pencil and paper ready to answer questions and get ready to use your knowledge for trivia night! Fun for the whole family. Registration is required at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7602080. This virtual program is hosted through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. If you don’t receive your reminder email on Thursday, April 8, contact the library. Vegetable Garden Planning & Planting Saturday, April 10, 11 a.m.-noon. Learn about designing and planting a vegetable garden, including basics of soil, location, planning, planting, etc. Presented by Kaz Mock, Master Gardener, Goochland Powhatan Master Gardener Association. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal. com/event/7608132. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. If you don’t receive your reminder email on Friday, April 9, contact the library. Foundations of Investing Monday, April 12, 6–7 p.m. Building your investor IQ starts with understanding the basics. Whether you are new to investing or need a refresher, the Foundations of Investing presentation will help you learn about: the importance of developing a strategy, the impact of asset allocation, and the influence of inflation on your long-term goals. Presenter: Kevin M Patterson, AAMS, Financial Advisor. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7612705. This virtual

Forecaster continued from >3 ward with the traffic and said something about how great it was to see someone who was wetter than he was. I eventually rode out of the rain, stopped the bike, poured the water out

program is hosted through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. If you don’t receive your reminder email on Sunday, April 11, contact the library. Teen Mindfulness Tuesday, April 13, 5–5:30 p.m. Ages 12 and up. De-stress with other teens and enjoy some calming activities through mindfulness techniques. Registration is required at https:// pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7602151. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email registered one day before the event occurs. Atlee Virtual Book Club Wednesday, April 14, 11:00 a.m.-noon This month’s selection is “The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek” by Kim Richardson. Place a hold on your copy today or check it out on hoopla or OverDrive. Registration is required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7607988. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent to the email used for registration 1 day before the event occurs. If you don’t receive your reminder email on Tuesday, April 13, contact the library. Kids’ Lego Club Friday, April 16, 3:30-4:30 p.m. Grades K-5. Meet other Lego fans and talk about your current creations. You can show off what you’ve made and ask questions, too! Registration required at https://pamunkeylibrary.libcal.com/event/7584200. This program is hosted virtually through Zoom and the meeting link will be sent one day before the event occurs. Contact the library if you don’t get your reminder email on Thursday, April 15. Water and You: What Is the Water Cycle?

of my boots and air dried to my destination. Later I asked him how they could possibly forecast climate change when he could not give me an accurate 45-minute rain forecast. He explained how much easier it was to forecast accurate long-term trends,

see Calendar > 13

than real-time, interactive weather patterns. I didn’t buy it then, but I understand now. Rest in peace forecaster. Do you have a story you’d like to share with Goochland Gazette readers? Send it to rryan@goochlandgazette.com, or call (804) 339-7956.

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April 8, 2021

NEWS: What’s Going on in Goochland County

For area gardeners itching to get growing, patience often pays off By Cathy McCarthy Contributing Writer

The weather in Virginia can be deceiving. Warm days early in Spring make it feel like it’s time to start planting in your garden. Unfortunately, planting too early can lead to disappointment and dead plants. Using decades of weather data, the United States Department of Agriculture has determined that Goochland County is in Plant Hardiness Zone 7a which means a ‘Last

To completely avoid even potentially damaging sub-36 degree temperatures, a Goochland gardener would need to wait until May 13. Frost Date’ of April 15 according to the National Centers for Environmental Information. However, even that date is a bit confusing as a ‘Last Frost Date’ is defined as the day which has a 50 percent chance of being the last date our area has a day below 32 degrees. I bet on those 50/50 odds last year and planted in late April. Then Goochland had 30 degree temperatures during the early hours of May 10th and I woke on Mother’s Day 2020 to dead tomato seedlings and zinnias. It felt like the pandemic was spreading to my plants. The data shows that to get

the probability of a 32 degree frost down to 10%, those in Plant Hardiness Zone 7a need to wait to plant until May 1. To completely avoid even potentially damaging sub-36 degree temperatures, a Goochland gardener would need to wait until May 13th. So what can a gardener do if they are anxious to get digging in the dirt right now but don’t like the odds before May 1? Plant cool season veggies. According to the Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Virginia Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide many cool season vegetable plants don’t mind a couple of frosty days. The VCE recommends planting beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and many other vegetables starting in April. Visit the VCE website at ext.vt.edu and enter ‘426-331’ in the search box to find the complete Vegetable Planting Guide or visit ext. vt.edu/lawn-garden/homevegetables.html for a whole collection of Virginia vegetable gardening research based content. You can also start some flower seeds indoors. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It’s OK to do something as simple as buy an inexpensive seed starting kit at a big box store. A few things you can do to increase your chances for success and enjoyment include: Plant annuals. Annual seeds are typically much easier to germinate than perennial plant seeds. Recommended annuals for starting indoors in our area include zinnias, sunflowers, and larkspur. Buy seed starter soil to use in your kit. While last

year’s leftover bag of potting soil may be calling to you, seeds will be much more successful in a sterile seed starting soil. Potting soil is formulated to feed more mature plants. Just like baby formula is made for human newborns, seed starting soil is made for seedlings. Place just one seed in each cell. A germination rate of 80%+ is typical of quality commercial seed. Therefore, if you put more than one seed in a cell the math says that you will end up with multiple seedlings fighting each other for nutrients before you can thin them. It’s better to have a couple empty cells than a whole flat of weak seedlings. Don’t buy the extra seed packet. Indoor seed starting can be time and space intensive. Very few people have the patience to care for hundreds of extra seedlings. The joy of seeing them sprout turns into the drudge of having to water, feed, harden off and transplant that many plants. If you really have just one more packet that you must buy, save it and use it in May for outdoor planting. Whether you decide to begin planting in April or May this year, please enjoy these cool temperatures. While the Last Frost Date in Central Virginia may be up for debate, the humidity and heat of summer are guaranteed. Cathy McCarthy is a certified Master Gardener through the Virginia Cooperative Extension and a member of the Goochland Powhatan Master Gardener Association. If you are interested in learning more about GPMGA programs or how to become a master gardener volunteer please visit gpmga.org.

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Goochland are you ready for a Republican GOVERNOR, LT. GOVERNOR AND ATTORNEY GENERAL? Join us at the Republican Statewide Convention May 8, 2021 to select our candidates! You must register to attend as a delegate and to vote. All information is on the Goochland County Republican Committee website—no cost to the delegates. https://www.goochland.gop Paid for and Authorized by the Goochland County Republican Committee Old Trail church of Christ is thrilled to announce that

Jamie Davis is now our full time minister. Please visit our website to learn more about the exciting happenings in what can easily be YOUR church family. Visit us soon and often. Sunday worship 10:30 Wednesday class 6:30 3015 River Road West, Goochland CH Across from Wells Fargo Bank oldtrailcoc.com Contact: oldtrailcoc@gmail.com and 804.221.1555 To God be the Glory!

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OPINION: Editorial, Letters to the Editor

April 8, 2021

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Goochland Woman’s Club collects donations in support of Safe Harbor The Goochland Woman’s Club, in partnership with the New Virginian’s Philanthropy Committee, recently showed its support for Safe Harbor’s Advocacy Program, which assists clients seeking protective services through the Henrico County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. The two woman’s groups collected approximately $800 worth of items to entertain young children (K-5th grade) while their parents attend court sessions. Donations included games, puzzles, crayons, colored pencils, markers, Play-Doh, dry erase boards and markers, activity and coloring books, craft sets, hardcover and paperback books, and a monetary donation. Brenda Turner, Vice President of the Goochland Woman’s Club, delivered the items to Paz Ochs, Director of Court Advocacy for Safe Harbor Shelter, on Friday, April 2. Photo by Roland Turner

As service industry rebounds, young people benefit By Roslyn Ryan Editor

Of all the teenage rites of passage that were snatched away over the course of the last year— and there were certainly quite a few, including school sports, proms and senior trips—one that hasn’t received quite as much attention is a time-honored tradition that almost every one of us has experienced. I’m talking, here, about the summer job, that first foray into the working world that offered so many of today’s “grown-ups” invaluable lessons in everything from budgeting to time management. Sadly, so many of the industries that provide teens with their first employment opportunities were either shut down or severely

restricted by the pandemic — think restaurants, boutiques, recreational facilities and even babysitting opportunities — robbing millions of young people of the opportunity to build up both their resumes and their savings accounts. If you grew up without the need for a summer job, I suppose that could be considered a good thing. Maybe your family headed off for a months-long tropical vacation once school let out, or toured Europe, or went skiing in Gstaad. (OK, now I am just clearly sharing what my teenage mind once assumed all kids from wealthy families did in the summertime. Sorry). In any event, I’m sure it was fun. For the rest of us, however, the picture was a bit different. We were the ones who donned shirts emblazoned with the logos of places that

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sold groceries, or sunglasses or oil changes. Most summer days meant waking up early to stock shelves or coming home late at night smelling like French fries. It was scooping ice cream, hawking t-shirts and guarding swimming pools. Among my group of friends there were a few of whose parents who owned businesses and could put their kids to work answering phones or filing, but the rest of us were left every June scrambling for many of the same serviceindustry jobs our own parents had once done. Fast food, filling stations, fun houses, you name it: Most of the jobs didn’t pay much, but they put gas in the tank and made us feel as though we were real adults making our way. see Jobs > 12

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS The Local welcomes your signed letters to the editor on topics of interest to Goochland residents. Letters must include your address and a daytime telephone number. We reserve the right to edit letters. We do not guarantee that every letter received will be published. Letters reflect the opinions and positions of the writers and not The Goochland Gazette. Send letters to: The Goochland Gazette 8460 Times-Dispatch Blvd. Mechanicsville, Va. 23116 Fax: 344-8746 E-mail: editor@goochlandgazette.com © 2021 by Richmond Suburban Newspapers. All advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CAC Audited Circulation: 8,014.

Remembering brave warriors who fought in ‘Nixon’s Army’ By Jim Ridolphi Contributing Columnist

Our nation recently celebrated a day of remembrance for all of the men and women who served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War. I noticed the post on Facebook announcing the day’s significance, and also noted the small number of responses to its posting. I wasn’t surprised. I’ve lived long enough to see a generation that once decried the war and all associated with it transformed into adults with a much fuller acceptance and even appreciation for those who served. In fact, for those of us who lived through those years, Vietnam remains a defining event in our lives, and few of us escaped its effects. But, for many of our friends, the war was a much stronger dose of reality, like to the soldier in the photo located under the post, placed there by friends. The young soldier sat on a pile of supplies, somewhere in South Vietnam. I instantly recognized the face. It was the brother of my best friend in high school. We had an additional connection. Decades earlier, both of us found ourselves huddled among a mass of rowdy draft-eligible candidates at the Federal Courthouse in downtown Richmond waiting in line to take a physical that ensured impending doom. “We’re all going to fight in Nixon’s Army,” a young man yelled as he searched for the end of the long procession of one-step away draftees. We looked at each other as a short-haired man walked along the line, pausing only to jerk an unsuspecting candidate out of the group. What was already a bad day for all see Vietnam > page 12

Thursday

April 8, 2021

SPORTS: Youth, High School, College, Recreational, Professional

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Goochland XC sweeps district championships By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

Goochland’s cross country teams made sure their final stand of the season at home was a dominant one, as they swept the James River District races to become district champions on their own course at Goochland High School, and they did so while honoring the seniors who helped them get there. Last Tuesday’s championships also featured teams from the high schools of Amelia, Cumberland, Nottoway, and Randolph-Henry. Goochland swept the top seven positions in the girls race, and also had all seven runners place in the top 11 of the boys event. The top 15 in each race were recognized as All-District runners. Senior Grace Juran won the individual James River District girls cross country championship with a time of 23 minutes. Freshman Megan Reid was second in 23:47, and senior Elizabeth Owens took third in 24:19. Finishing fourth through seventh for Goochland were Anna Gagnon (24:38), Anneliese Rogerson (25:11), Maggie Goodman (26:01), and senior Caroline Black (26:07). Senior Jack Hoffler won the individual James River District boys cross country championship with a time of 19:14. Freshman Luke Farkas was second in 19:37, and sophomore Drew Meiller took third in 19:49. Finishing sixth through eighth for Goochland were David Johnson (20:41), Grayson Cagwin (20:54), and Cody Ware (21:09). Senior Reid Dameron finished 11th

in 22:45. The district championships fell on Goochland’s Senior Day, with the cross country team honoring the achievements and contributions of Caroline Black, Reid Dameron, Taylor Gagnon, Jack Hoffler, Grace Juran, and Elizabeth Owens. As freshmen, they were part of the first Goochland team to send the boys and the girls to the state championships at the same time. “This core of runners has Photos by Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette been so dedicated to the sport Seniors Grace Juran (from left), Jack Hoffler, Elizabeth Owens and Reid Dameron compete in the James River District cross and dedicated to their team- country championships held last Tuesday at Goochland High School. Juran and Hoffler won the individual championships, and Goochland swept the team championships in both the boys and girls races. mates,” said Andrew Meiller, who coached all of the seniors since sixth grade and up to this year. “As a group, this is the best group I’ve ever coached for sure, and by far the most successful.”

Senior Caroline Black (from left), Luke Farkas, Megan Reid and Drew Meiller compete in the district championships. Taylor Gagnon was among the seniors honored at the district championships.

Grayson Cagwin (from left), Anna Gagnon, David Johnson, Anneliese Rogerson, Cody Ware and Maggie Goodman compete in the district championships.

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Bulldogs close regular season with record of 8-1 By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

GOOCHLAND -- Playing its first match in 11 days, Goochland volleyball stayed dominant with its straight-sets victory over Cumberland (2510, 27-25, 25-9). Last Tuesday’s match was also Goochand’s Senior Day. The Bulldogs celebrated the contributions and achievements of seniors Megan Harlow and Taylor Michaels, who helped Goochland’s volleyball team win the Region 3B championship and advance to the Class 3 state semifinals in 2019. “They’re really great. They’re quiet leaders,” Goochland head coach Rachel Jacobsen said of Harlow and Michaels. “I know that they’re always going to do the right thing. I know that they’re always going to encourage their teammates. I know that they’re always going to be helpful and positive, and they’re just a great presence to have around. We’re going to miss them a lot next year.” Both seniors contributed to last Tuesday’s win. Michaels showcased her versatility by setting in addition to continuously bringing powerful attacks on offense, and she ended the night with four assists, 2 kills, and 2 aces. Harlow set the tone in Goochland’s dominant first set when she delivered a dink to Cumberland’s shallow middle floor for the Bulldogs’ first point of the match. She ended the night with 5 kills. Sophomore Nina Smith in her return tied for the longest service stretch on Goochland’s team last Tuesday, as she served for nine straight points in Goochland’s first-set win. Compared to the first time the Bulldogs played Cumberland this season, Jacobsen said they were more

Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette

Goochland High School seniors Megan Harlow (second from left) and Taylor Michaels (13), pictured with their families, were honored on Goochland volleyball’s Senior Night held last Tuesday.

Photos by Joel C. Brown

Marina Stratiou (25) and Laura Lee Baldwin (second from left) compete in last Tuesday’s home game versus Cumberland, and Audrey Dolan (8) and Jasmine Price (28) compete in last Wednesday’s home game versus Culpeper.

consistent this time around in the first and third set, and she was impressed by how the Bulldogs were able to pull out the victory in the second set, in which Goochland was trying some different things. Cumberland was on set point with a 24-23 lead, but the Bulldogs tied it 24-24 to force extra points in the set when the Dukes couldn’t return Harlow’s dink. From there, junior Libero

Blair Bussells had two huge first touches on Cumberland’s attacks – a diving receive that sent the ball right back to the Dukes, and a quick touch on the next receive that skied the ball upwards – and Michaels smashed a laser to Cumberland’s court on Nicole Brown’s set for a 26-25 lead. Sophomore Laura Lee Baldwin wrapped up set point for Goochland with a rocketing hit that slammed into the

receiving Cumberland player’s hands and ricocheted out of bounds. Marina Stratiou was the other Goochland player to serve for nine straight points, doing so to mushroom Goochland’s third-set lead over Cumberland to 12-2. She also had the last serve of the day, which Cumberland hit away to ensure the set and match for the Bulldogs. Stratiou totaled three assists and a team-leading

five aces. “Marina’s just very steady, all-around,” Jacobsen said of Stratiou. “I can always trust her to be a calm person on the court and…do what needs to be done.” In one of her first times playing in all three straight sets of a match, Baldwin ended the night with a team-leading 6 kills. She was brought up from JV last year, and that was her first year playing, period, Jacobsen said.

“She did a really, really great job tonight,” Jacobsen said of Baldwin. “She’s come really far. She’s highly athletic in the first place…she’s worked really hard.” Jasmine Price made strong defensive plays in the second set, including a receive on a Cumberland attack that enabled Michaels to set it and Baldwin to deliver the kill to the left side for a 9-7 lead, as well as a diving save to keep alive a tying point for a 14-14 score. “She’s just such a great allaround player to have around. Just her energy is just infectious,” Jacobsen said of Price. “She brings everybody around her up. She’s just so positive.” Bussells and Audrey Dolan both had multiple clutch dives on defense in Tuesday’s match and ended the evening with nine digs and seven digs, respectively. Sophomore setter Nicole Brown had four assists. Goochland won its next two matches over the following two days to head into the postseason with an 8-1 record. In the Bulldogs’ straight-sets win (258, 25-16, 27-25) over Culpeper on Wednesday, Nicole Brown had 7 kills, 2 blocks, and six assists, Audrey Dolan had 5 aces and three digs, Blair Bussells had 4 aces and 10 digs, and Taylor Michaels had 6 kills and seven digs. In their straight-sets win (2517, 25-14, 25-19) at RandolphHenry on Thursday, Brown had 15 assists, 4 aces, and 6 kills, Stratiou had 12 assists, Michaels had 6 aces, 4 kills, and four digs, Smith had 3 aces and 14 kills, Blair Bussells had eight digs, and Layla Ford had 6 kills “They’re working really hard all-around,” Jacobsen said of the players, “and we’re just excited for what’s to come…we’re glad to be here to play. That’s all that matters.”

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Benedictine coach Sean Ryan earns 300th victory Staff Reports

Benedictine head coach Sean Ryan earned his 300th career coaching victory over this past weekend as the Cadets swept a Saturday doubleheader over Archbishop Spalding, 3-2 and 4-2. “I’ve been reflecting the past few days on it, and it just – it brings back a lot of very fond memories of a lot of players, a lot of families at both schools,” said Ryan, who coached at Maggie Walker Governor’s School for the 2002 and 2003 seasons and has coached at Benedictine since 2004. “I have a lot of fond memories of the players and the teams we played, a lot of great opponents.” From 2004 to 2019, Ryan’s teams at Benedictine played in 14 state quarterfinals, seven state semifinals and five state finals. His Cadets won state championships in 2010, 2017, and 2019.

When reflecting on the consistent thread to all of the successes across the years, Ryan said: “We try to preach to our guys to improve a little bit every day, and over the years, I’ve probably mellowed a little bit, which I think probably has also helped in certain ways to not take things so seriously, and when you make mistakes, to just go with the flow a little bit more, and I do better at that now, but I think the overriding goal is for us to come out, get a little bit better each day, prepare accordingly, work hard in your practices so that you come out here and play as best as you can in a game day.” He’s grateful to his family and to the public relations firm where he works – The Hodges Partnership in Richmond’s Shockoe Bottom – for allowing him to coach throughout the years, and he spoke to having administrators at both Benedictine and Maggie Walker who allowed

Nick Vandeloecht/Goochland Gazette

Benedictine coach Sean Ryan talks to his team following a 2020-21 season game. Last weekend, Ryan tearned his 300th career coaching win across 20 seasons at Maggie Walker Governor’s School (2002-03) and Benedictine (2004-present).

him to do what he loves to do. Ryan said he is forever indebted to Jim Holdren and Paige Hawkins, who “hired me and took a chance on me at Maggie Walker,” and also to John McGinty and Barry Gibrall who, two years later, “took a chance on me and

hired me” at Benedictine. “You get a little emotional thinking about it because it’s just – I never got into this thinking I’d be coaching high school baseball 20 years later,” Ryan said, “and you don’t get into it for milestones and that sort of thing, but it’s been a

The Cadets (4-3) also fun ride. It’s a little bit humbling, but also...it’s very mem- defeated Norfolk Christian 6-1 orable and brings back a lot of on March 27 and The Miller School 4-3 on March 30. fond memories.” In the Cadets’ win over The Miller School, Aleksa pitched Benedictine wins 4 straight 4 and 1/3 scoreless innings in After three initial losses, relief, Corey Adams had two the Cadets as of this past hits and two runs, and Luke weekend had built up a win- Franko made a game-saving ning record. diving catch on the track. Pitching and defense were Ryan noted that their pitchcentral to their 3-2 and 4-2 vic- ing over the last four games has tories over Archbishop Spalding been really strong. The Cadets on Saturday, as Michael Aleksa, scattered eight runs across Daniel Lingle, and Jay Woolfolk those four wins. combined to allow three hits in He also said that the playGame 1, and Derrell Fletcher, ers who came over from the Connor Handy, and Dalton football team have brought a King combined to allow two different energy. “I think guys were excithits in Game 2. In their 4-2 win, the Cadets, ed to see them, and several trailing 2-1 through the first of them are already starting four innings, scored the tying and they’re already starting to and go-ahead runs in the fifth make impacts in the game,” and added an insurance run in Ryan said, “but, more than anything, they’ve brought a the sixth. “Our defense on Saturday new energy, and I think the in particular was fantastic,” team now is starting to come together a little bit.” Ryan said.

Goochland heads into first round of playoffs unbeaten By Nick Vandeloecht Sports Editor

Goochland football will take on Brentsville District in the first round of the playoffs this Friday at 7 p.m. after assembling an unbeaten record of 5-0 in the 2020-21 regular season. The Bulldogs this season defeated Amelia County 50-0, Albemarle 27-0, Liberty (Bealeton) 14-12, Orange County 47-18, and Central Lunenburg 28-12 to earn the No. 1 seed in Class 3, Region B. Two of those opponents, Liberty and Orange, are in Class 4. Albemarle is in Class 5. This is Goochland’s fourth

undefeated regular season in the last five academic years. Despite being young up front, the Bulldogs’ offensive line, led by senior center and VMI commit Ayden Doczi, has paved the way for its offense to amass 1,328 total yards, including 848 rushing, while the defense through the first five games has held opposing offenses to 848 yards, including 418 rushing. Junior quarterback and defensive back C.J. Towles, who in March received Division I offers from the University of Virginia, Old Dominion University, and Liberty University, has completed 58% of his passes this regular sea-

son for 480 yards and 8 touchdowns. Through five games played, he’s given up just one interception. His longest touchdown strike of the season so far has been a 73-yard pass to Jason Woodson in Goochland’s victory over Liberty. Senior Conner Popielarz has led Goochland in the run game, rushing for 351 yards and 5 touchdowns on 53 carries. He has also caught seven passes for 69 yards and 2 more touchdowns. Senior Kameron Holman has been Goochland’s leading receiver with 192 yards and 3 touchdowns on nine catches. Holman has also rushed for 178 yards and 1 touchdown on 21

carries. Jason Woodson has further bolstered the Bulldogs’ offense, adding 127 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on 25 carries and 78 yards and 2 touchdowns on two catches. Goochland’s defense this season has racked up 300 tackles (25 for loss, seven sacks), seven interceptions, four fumbles, and four defensive touchdowns in five games played. Eyan Pace led Goochland with two interceptions, recovered a fumble and scored twice on defense to go along with his 12 tackles, including three for a loss. Senior Will Stratton leads Goochland in tackling so far

with 51 (15 solo, 36 assists) and is tied with teammate De’Andre Robinson for the most tackles for loss (four each) on the team. Stratton has also caught an interception and blocked three kicks this season. Senior Anthony Holland has 38 tackles (14 solo, 24 assists) and three tackles for loss. Sophomore kicker Tyler Black has so far kicked three field goals and made 19 of 23 PAT attempts. Goochland was supposed to play James Wood this past Friday, but Goochland school officials on Thursday were informed that James Wood’s football team was unavailable to play on Friday. As a result,

the game was cancelled. Goochland’s first-round opponent, Brentsville District, went 5-1 this season with wins over George Mason (21-12), Warren County (22-8), CentralWoodstock (35-0), William Monroe (22-3), and Manassas Park (forfeit), and a loss to Skyline (44-21). Brentsville District quarterback Beau Lang this season has completed 35 of 65 passes for 517 yards and 5 touchdowns and has thrown just two interceptions all year. He also has 66 carries for 370 rushing yards and 4 more touchdowns. Jackson Schnetzler has 10 receptions for 91 yards.

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